‘I have told you this, so that you will not give up your faith. You will be expelled from the Synagogues, and the time will come when anyone who kills you will think that by doing this he is serving God… But I have told you this, so that when the time comes for them to do these things, you will remember that I told you’ (John 16:1-4)
Introduction
Witnessing for Christ in a world of confusion, a world that is often cruel, grasping, indifferent, skeptical and cynical becomes extremely difficult. How can we really stand for Jesus in troubled times? As Christians we do not live in a comfortable, safe, secured, sheltered and protected world. We live in a world full of confusion, temptation and trouble of every kind – violent insurgency, terrorism, ethnic bigotry, religious fanaticism, endemic corruption, political banditry, poverty, ignorance and disease. A world where we all have inhale the fatal germs of sin and human evil. It is in the midst of this world that we are expected to bear witness bravely to Christ. How can we let the light of Christ truth and goodness shine in the world? The common temptation is to isolate ourselves so as to keep ourselves free from contamination of evil and wickedness; we vanish into the crowd, and so lose our identity and sense of mission as Christians
Christ Warning and Assurance of Victory
Christ knew how rough and tough the world could be and told his disciples in advance about the trials, tribulations and persecution they would encounter. They would be hated by all on account of His name. They would meet all kinds false prophets speaking in His name. He told them that there would be terrible wars, earthquakes, plagues, famines and revolutions that will tear the world apart. There would be betrayal by members of their own families, imprisonment, trial and death. He urged them not to be afraid. Jesus Christ gave them assurance that in the end, His power will see them through all these trials. They were not to depend on their own cleverness or strength, but only on His help. ‘Everyone will hate you because of me, but not a single hair from your head will be lost. Stand firm, and you will save yourselves’ (Luke 21:17-19).
Witnessing requires great faith and Courage
Witnessing calls for great faith, courage and grace from God. How can we be bold and generous followers of Christ in the midst of skeptical and hostile world, in this turbulent and unpredictable times when our faith is ridiculed? (Matthew 10:32-33). We can truly be courageous witnesses for Christ in the following ways:
· When our lives electrify the natural order
· When we give public witness to Christ love, truth, goodness and justice on the trains and buses; in schools, offices, market, hotels, hospitals and play grounds.
· Be true witnesses through the life of sacrifice, love, prayer and service
· When we champion the cause of the poor, exploited and marginalized in the society by becoming the voice for the voiceless
· When we make our homes, families and communities places of love, understanding, mercy and forgiveness.
· When we become oasis of hope and freedom for our citizens.
In fact, Christ challenges us to walk without fear along the road of faithfulness. Only when we keep our eyes fixed on Christ can we:
Ø Develop resistance and immunity to disease and the tyranny of wickedness
Ø Have constant spiritual sterilization to live germ-free lives through prayers, confession and penance
Ø Only then can we thrive, flourish, blossom and become healthy through His grace in a protected environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we realize that that though we are in the world, but we are not of the world. So in the midst of a chaotic world, we should become messengers of hope and bearers of the light of Christ.
Rev. Fr. Michael Adefemi Adegbola, Director Media Service Centre Kaduna, Nigeria 2012
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